The University of Tennessee School of Information Sciences (SIS)
invites you to hear Dr. Ann Prentice speak on “The Public Library in the
Twenty First Century” on Wednesday, April 7, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm,
in the James A. Haslam II Business Building, Brinkley Conference Room (334).
Professor Prentice is a Professor Emerita and former Dean of
the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland. She was named
Director of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Library and
Information Sciences (now SIS) in 1978 and served as Director until 1988.
Next year, in 2011, the School will celebrate 40 years as an
ALA-accredited program, and this lecture will be the first in a series that
looks back to honor the school’s directors. Each of the former, living
directors, hired as a result of a national search, will be invited to present
at a research forum over the next two years. See below for more information
about these directors.*
This talk is free and open to the public and will be
webcast. (Details forthcoming)
What: SIS Research Forum with Professor Dr. Ann
Prentice
When: Wednesday, April 7, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Where: James A. Haslam II Business Building. Brinkley
Room (UT Campus), Room 334
Title: The Public Library in the Twenty First Century
Abstract:
Since its 18th Century beginnings, the public library has
served the community by providing a path to education and cultural improvement.
It has provided educational opportunities to an ever changing workforce, has
served as a cultural bridge to the many waves of immigrants, has been a source
of great joy to children, and has had an important role in creating and
building community.
While the purpose of the public library has not changed, the
tools provided by the information revolution have greatly expanded how the
public library can fulfill its purpose. From online reference services to
websites and social networking, the public library is at the forefront of the
information revolution. And its door is open to everyone in the community who
wishes to be a part of today’s world. In this presentation, I will
discuss a number of the ways in which the public library has successfully
entered the twenty first century with its values intact.
Brief Bio:
Ann E. Prentice was named Director of UT’s Graduate
School of Library and Information Sciences (now SIS) in 1978 and served as
Director until 1988. After leaving UT, she became the Associate Vice President
for Information Services at the University of South Florida. In 1993 she became
Dean of the College of Information Studies at Maryland’s iSchool, the
University of Maryland until 2001; concurrently, from 1994 to 1998, she was
Acting Assistant Vice President for Information where technical departments,
including Academic Computing, Administrative Computing, and Data
Administration, reported to her. She retired in 2001 as Professor Emerita.
Dr. Prentice is the author of Managing in the Information
Age, which she uses in an online management course that she developed and
teaches at the iSchool at Maryland. She also teaches a leadership course that
she designed, and a seminar in public libraries. She is currently completing a
book for Libraries Unlimited titled The Public Library in the Twenty-first
Century.
While at UT, Dr. Prentice developed research connections with
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which set the stage for the school’s
long-term relationship with the lab, beginning with numerous opportunities with
students. She also supported Dr. Pemberton’s efforts to launch the
university’s Records Management Office, and she hired Gerri Littlejohn as
office manager. Dr. Prentice holds a Doctorate in Library and Information
Sciences from Columbia University, and a BA in Political Science from the
University of Rochester.
* Directors of the School of Information Sciences
include:
1971 Gary Purcell is
named director of the independent Graduate School of Library and Information
Science (GSLIS).
1978 Ann Prentice is
named director of GSLIS
1992 Jose Marie
Griffiths is named director of GSLIS
1999 Elizabeth Aversa is
named Director of SIS
2005 Edwin Cortez is
named director SIS
__________
Joel Southern
Communications Specialist
School of Information Sciences
College of Communication and Information
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
1345 Circle Park Drive, Suite 451
Knoxville, TN 37996-0341
____________
(865) 974-6727
jsouthern at utk dot edu
www.sis.utk.edu